Nanocomposite: Antimony Sulfide in Channels of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

A nanocomposite of antimony sulfide Sb₂S₃ embedded into the channels of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been prepared for the first time by the capillary wetting method and has been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), transmission scanning electron microscopy (TSEM), and X-ray energy dispersive (EDX) spectroscopy. Antimony sulfide fills the channels of almost all SWCNTs. Channel filling is continuous along the entire length of the tube up to 1 μm. The diameters of filled SWCNTs fall in the range 0.6–3.5 nm. The periodicity of Sb₂S₃ crystal clusters observed on electron microscopic images is 2.0–2.2 nm along the nanotube axis and 2.5–3.5 nm in the transverse direction. A structural model of a Sb₂S₃ cluster is suggested.